Heyro everybody. I'm a highschool student that has been very interested in the record engineering/production field. I play many instruments and record at home. I am starting to look into colleges with a recording arts major. I have a few questions

Degree vs. Diploma. I've heard from many that studio owners prefer their engineers to go to a regular 4 year college and just have a major in recording tecnology or recording arts. I've also heard from the professionals that a degree program like fulsail or berklee is also respected.

Also if anybody from Tennessee could elaborate on schools being that i live here, i would like to use some of the benefits of the instate scholarships

help is greatly appreciated,
guitarjunky123

I think what will get your foot in the door is your reputation as an engineer. That being said, how do you get that? Time! Try and find a studio that will let you intern, or at least talk to them. If they are a good studio, they will teach you. If it's a normal studio, they may teach you, but most of the time you will be cleaning up and running out for food and drink for the clients. The more info you have going in, the better you will learn and the better chance you will be able to start twisting knobs IF THEY LET YOU!

If you walk in with a BA or MA in recording engineering, then at least they know you are interested and have training. I don't know about recording only schools, like Fullsail or RIT, but it still shows that you are serious. Biggest problem, like most degrees, when you graduate you're a beginner. A trained beginner, but a beginner. It takes a lot of years to get the experience to be able to figure this stuff out, so be preparred to take some time. Just make sure that any school you go to gives you a well rounded education. If you know every aspect of music, can play piano and other instruments, can do MIDI in your sleep, then you will be of value to a studio. You'd be surprised how many bad things happen in recording session, and if you can fix it for them, you will be appreciated.

Having said this, don't forget to look into electronics training too as you'll need to know how to check and repair equipment in case it breaks in the middle of a session. As I said, a well rounded education.